LTP Induction in Glial Cells

Although neuron-glia crosstalk has been studied extensively in the past, it has not been clear that the signaling mediating this crosstalk exhibits any activity-dependent plasticity, such as the phenomenon of long-term potentiation (LTP) that is thought to represent the electrophysiological representation of memory. Ge et al. now report that neuronal signaling to NG2 glial cells in hippocampal slices exhibits LTP-like plasticity. The NG2 cell response is mediated by AMPA receptors and undergoes LTP after theta burst stimulation. LTP induction depends on postsynaptic Ca2+ and glutamate receptors, but not on NMDA receptors, and can be blocked by philanthotoxin, suggesting an involvement of Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors.